Muiden Castle

View of the castle from the banks of vestinggracht

Vestinggracht means the "fortress canal."

West façade of the Muiden Castle

Count Floris V of Holland commissioned the first fortress in 1285, selecting this strategic location, both militarily and commercially, on the banks of the Vecht River, at its mouth into the Zuiderzee, currently known as Lake IJ or IJsselmeer. After his nobles betrayed and killed him, the old castle was destroyed by the then archbishop of Utrecht, enemy of Floris V.

Historic gardens of Muiderslot

The Muiden Castle has two gardens, one of vegetables and another one of herbs. The arcade in the background is the covered path dividing the gardens.

Covered path of vegetable arches between the Muiderslot gardens

The Castle of Muiden as seen from its gardens

Inner courtyard of Muiden Castle

Dutch helmet exhibited at Muiden Castle

A helmet with feathered crest, and visor with double opening, ideal for jousts or horseback combat.

Dutch close helmet

In this photo you can better see the decorative peacock feathers in the helmet’s crest.

Sword and suits of armour in the armoury of the Muiderslot museum

The castle of Muiden is a museum since 1878.

Dutch knight suit of armour

Detail of a knight's armour at Muiderslot

Lifting mechanism of the castle's drawbridge

The "Prince's Chamber" with cradle and children's bed

The Knights Room

Sealed envelopes next to documents and wax sealing tools

Central tree in the historic gardens of Muiden Castle

The dungeon of Muiden Castle

An essential area in any decent castle, for unwanted guests or that relative that just speaks too much.

Detail of wax sealed envelopes

Façade of Muiden Castle entrance and the stone bridge and drawbridge

Backplate of a cuirass, helmets and hauberk of foot soldiers

Reproduction of medieval Dutch soldier uniform

Miniature of a banquet at the Muiderslot Castle

Statue of Maria Tesselschade in the Muiderslot gardens

Statue entitled "Tesseltje," made by Gerarda Rueter in 1971, representing Maria Tesselschade, a poet from Amsterdam, who used to visit Muiden Castle during the XVII century.

Panorama of the castle dungeon in the south tower

Reinforced door from 1784 in one of the main rooms of the castle

Panorama of the castle's attic

Tree in the historic gardens of Muiderslot

Window of the gardens' vegetable arcade

One of the windows in the covered path between the Muiderslot gardens.

Dutch child armour

In this photo you can see the structure of the gauntlets of this training armour made for future knights.

Helmet of a Dutch child armour

Pauldrons, breastplate and gorget.

Detail of a Dutch armour from the 16th century

View of the inner courtyard of Muiderslot

Muiderslot gardens as seen from the castle

In this panoramic view you can see the gallery or covered path dividing the two gardens, the vegetable garden on the left, and the herb garden on the right.

Topiary art

Bushes clipped into cones bordering the Muiderslot gardens.

Vessels at the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club next to Muiderslot

In Dutch: "Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeil- & Roeivereeniging" (Royal Dutch Sailing and Rowing Club). In this picture from the castle grounds you can see the west battery of Muiden on the other shore of the Vecht, behind the vessels of the club, a strategic location overlooking the IJsselmeer. This battery is a round tower-fortress similar to the Ossenmarkt of Weesp, and was built in 1852.

The plum orchard and northeast façade of Muiderslot Castle

Muiderslot Castle as seen from the south

Muiderslot entrance

The stone bridge and drawbridge as seen from the interior of the castle of Muiden.

Northeast tower of Muiderslot

Muiderslot Castle's main façade